Sunday Sit-down: Syd Fadner

Sunday

Dec 29, 2013 at 6:00 AMDec 29, 2013 at 6:43 AM

By Amanda Roberge CORRESPONDENT

When Syd Fadner graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1979, she didn't have a clear picture of what she was doing with her life. In a couple of chance and spontaneous moves, she found herself in the Boston area signing up for a fencing class with a friend. The rest, as they say, is history.

Now more than 30 years later, she owns her own gym and training center, Worcester Fencing Club, and has coached the Boston College men's and women's varsity fencing teams since 1991. But more importantly, she has had a long and dedicated career as a mentor in the age-old martial art to hundreds of people, using her quiet voice and gentle demeanor to encourage her students — young and old — to be the very best they can be.

Trained for all three weapons in fencing — foil, epee and saber — she may not meet the typical physical expectation of an accomplished fencer, but she has always used her slight, 4-foot-11 stature to her advantage in the sport she loves.

Does being not very tall hinder you in the world of fencing?

The thing is, with fencing, there is no one physical type that you need to be. You basically work with what you have, use your every advantage. And the reason for that is that it isn't enough to be fast and strong — there is this element of tactical planning and strategy, and the person who wins will be the one who out-thinks his opponent. Success in fencing is based on a very complicated formula because there are lots of variables, physically and emotionally.

Do lefties have an advantage?

Not technically, but if there is an advantage it is that they are accustomed to bouts with righties more than a righty would be with a lefty. But that playing field levels out very quickly.

What kinds of personal qualities make you a good coach?

I am a very patient person, especially with beginners, and I am pretty good at identifying the things people should focus their energies on improving, and the things they are naturally good at. Because it is, in essence, a combat sport, there is a certain level of emotional and mental engagement that happens, and I pick up on that kind of thing in people, where their strength lies.

Do you have any favorite fencing memories or career highlights when you look back?

Well, one funny thing stands out. I was on a female epee team one year and we went to the national championships, and at one point we were competing for third place. Now, at this point we were like the Bad News Bears — I mean, some of our girls were injured, a couple of us, myself included, were not exactly the physical type for epee, we were just this rogue band of people who had somehow made it to the semifinals. Our opponents were like these modern pentathletes, all put together with matching warm-up suits and just really organized.

Let me guess — you beat them?

We beat them. And no one expected that to happen and that was just the best feeling.

Did you always have this vision that you would own a gym?

Actually, it just kind of happened. I have known Doug Jacobs, who owned WFC previously, for year,s and last summer I had heard he was looking to sell it. I started to get excited about it and it's been great.

So you don't live around here?

No, I live in Watertown, so it's a commute, but it's in the opposite direction of most commuters, so that's good.

Is fencing a super-expensive sport for regular people to try?

Not at all. I mean, for one thing, if you come to our classes or open-fencing sessions, we provide all of the equipment people need. But even if you want to own your own stuff, you are talking about decent equipment for less than $200 total.

That is so much less than I would have thought.

I think a lot of people have this notion that fencing is elite, and maybe even delicate. It really isn't. Not only is it a combat sport, it's also a great workout. There is nothing elite about it.